FORMER world under-19s arm wrestling champion Dawn Higson has been left devastated after injury spoiled her chance of reclaiming her title.

The 17-year-old from Blackrod snapped a ligament in her left arm during her first match at the world championships on Saturday at the Trafford Centre.

Brave Dawn, a pupil at Rivington and Blackrod High School, battled through, but finished fifth in the under-21s category and eighth in the adult section. There were 1,300 competitors.

Her father, Andrew, said: "She was really disappointed. It's the worst result she's had and was especially bad because it was on home soil.

"But in a few weeks time she'll be training hard again and we'll be working to find sponsorship for the world championships in Bulgaria next year."

Dawn had been hoping to re-claim her world title, which she lost last year to Russian Alina Samotoy.

She began arm wrestling through her father's friendship with British champion Stan Dickinson.